Moment, Moving Moments, explores the characterization of Dashilar through still and moving images. Both individual and façade are extricated to show the historic and evolving identity of a hutong (ancient city alley or lane formed by traditional courtyard residences) that have over 600 years of history.

It is a portrait study of the individual and its context, of the static and the kinetic, of the surface and its content.

The still portrait of the individual encapsulates the formal aspects and qualities of the person. Whereas, the moving portrait prioritizes content over form by superimposing textual information provided by the subject on top of their kinetic image. Still, moving image and text are separate entities orchestrated into one dyptich.

The same thing can be said with the architectural portrait, which captures a moment in time, highlighting the formal aspect of the architecture. However, as with the text over the moving individual portrait, the movement in the city takes precedence over the context or architecture.

The paradox is when movement appears to be still yet the content of the space is still apparent through light and shadow. There appears to be an atmospheric movement present at this time. An exploration of the facades in both day and night allow for these atmospheric qualities to become more pronounced.

This portrait of Dashilar analyzes modernization and it’s relationship to tradition. It allows us to imagine what it once was, what it has become and what it potentially can be.
Collaborator: Dashilar Project